Tussock bulrush description

A grass-like, perennial plant, the tussock bulrush (Scirpus cerpitosus) grows in distinctive dense tufts (2)(3)(4)(5)(6). The long, smooth, erect stems are slim and often tapering (3)(5). Straight, fine, thread-like leaves cluster around the base of the plant (4)(5), and the greyish-brown, scale-like leaf-sheaths typically form a conspicuous build-up around the base of the plant (2)(6). The uppermost leaf sheath is green and has a smooth, blunt-tipped blade (3)(6).

The inflorescence of the tussock bulrush has several flowers, which are arranged spirally in a single, short ‘spikelet’ at the end of a flowering stem. The spikelets have reddish-brown to dark brown scales, which are small, thin, protective leaf-like structures (5). Beneath the spikelet is a scale-like leaf or a reduced bract(4)(5). The spikelets contain between three to nine flowers, each with a single orange-brown floral scale that has pale margins (2). The outer part of the flower, the perianth, is modified into six brown or white bristles (2)(4)(5)(6).

The fruit of the tussock bulrush is a smooth, brown or golden-brown, three-sided achene, which has a short point and is surrounded by inconspicuous bristles (2)(4)(5)(6).

Tussock bulrush biology

Tussock bulrush range

A widely distributed species, the tussock bulrush occurs throughout Europe and North America. In North America, this species ranges from Alaska, as far north as the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, east to Quebec, Labrador and Greenland, and south to the northern United States (2)(6).

In Europe, the tussock bulrush occurs from Iceland to Finland and parts of the Russian Federation, and as far south as Belgium and Germany (2)(6).

Species found in a similar habitat

Tussock bulrush status

Tussock bulrush threats

The tussock bulrush has a secure global population and is not currently considered endangered.

However, in Wisconsin in the U.S., the tussock bulrush has been listed as ‘Threatened’ by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This may be due to its rarity in the state, or because of unspecified factors which are currently making it vulnerable to local extinction (7).

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